Sustainability has been a key theme in the fashion industry over the last 12 months but hosting the first ever Drapers Sustainable Fashion event last week highlighted how widespread the ambition is for fashion businesses to move towards a greener future.

Entries are now open for the Drapers Digital Awards - recognising the best of the best in ecommerce across the fashion industry in the UK and Ireland.

Sports Direct Group’s head of elevation, Mike Murray, and Flannels’ head of brand, Carl Tallents, exclusively unveil their UK and international expansion plans for Flannels and explain why Sports Direct is betting big on the high street.

Drapers Footwear Awards 19 will recognise and celebrate the footwear's very best from across the UK and Ireland.

We have 18 exciting categories up for contest, including International Footwear Business of the Year and Best Sustainable Initiative of the Year.

Sports Direct Group’s head of elevation, Mike Murray, and Flannels’ head of brand, Carl Tallents, exclusively unveil their UK and international expansion plans for Flannels and explain why Sports Direct is betting big on the high street.

Figleaves in profit but N Brown warns confidence is waning

N Brown’s etail lingerie business Figleaves has made a half-year profit for the first time in its history, but the home shopping fashion group faces an uphill battle until the end of the year as consumer confidence deteriorates.

N Brown expects Figleaves, which it acquired last year for £11.5m, to achieve a full-year profit in its next financial year.

The retailer declined to give numbers, but said the first-half profit made was “small”.

Figleaves’ underlying losses were cut to £900,000 in N Brown’s year to February 26 from a £6.4m loss in the 12 months to June 28, 2009.

N Brown notched up a 5.9% increase in pre-tax profit to £44.8m in its first half to August 27. Like-for-likes were up 1.5%.

However, chief executive Alan White said consumer confidence was dampening and expressed caution about the Christmas trading period.

White said N Brown had seen erratic shopping patterns in recent weeks, with sales up 11% last weekend, compared to an 18% slump the previous weekend. In the six weeks to October 8 its like-for-like sales dropped 1.5%.

White said the volatility is making it difficult to predict trading in the run-up to Christmas and he expects promotions to set the tone for the golden quarter.

He said: “There is too much stock in the market as a whole. It’s going to be promotional.”

White said N Brown’s autumn clothing price rises is making it difficult to get cash-strapped consumers spending.

Rival home shopping boss Mark Newton-Jones, chief executive of Shop Direct Group, has also seen erratic patterns and said the last month had been “rocky”.

The retailer, which posted a 5% sales rise over the Christmas period last year, expects growth to be “slimmer” this time round.

N Brown is in advanced discussions to sign five new locations for its Simply Be brand, which opened its first two physical stores over the past month.

Global Fashion Group (GFG), the ecommerce company behind retailers including Zalora, The Iconic and Dafiti, has announced an 18.7% rise in revenues to €1.16bn (£1bn) for the full year 2018, cutting its adjusted EBITDA loss to €49.8m (£43m) for the period.

British brand and retailer Ted Baker announced a 14.3% drop in profit before tax and exceptional items to £63m for the year to 26 January 2019, blaming discounting, consumer uncertainties and high-street challenges.

Readers' comments (1)

Anonymous22 October 2011 4:04 pm

Customers probably turned off by their immovable £3 late returns fee for goods received back more than 14 days from dispatch & snail like delivery.

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